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JULY 2013 - VOL. 29 NO. 7
(Continued on page 2.)
Boulder plans to serve 5,800 county
customers if it launches city utility
by Erica Meltzer, Camera Staff Writer,
www.dailycamera.com, June 12, 2013
DENVER - The Colorado Public Utilities
Commission will hold a hearing on whether
the city of Boulder can serve customers
in unincorporated Boulder County - over
the objections of Xcel Energy - if the city
creates a municipal electric utility.
The commissioners agreed Wednesday that
the issue deserves to be aired, with arguments
made on both sides.
Boulder officials have said that, if the city
creates a municipal utility, it would take
possession of two Xcel substations that
serve city and county customers, though
it would not pursue annexation or condemn
any non-Xcel property.
Roughly 5,800 county energy customers -
a figure that Xcel says represents about
11,000 residents - would be affected
by the change.
Those county residents were not eligible
to vote in the November 2011 election that
authorized Boulder to explore the creation
of a city-run utility.
A group is trying to put a charter amendment
on this year's ballot that would require those
county residents be allowed to vote in a future
debt-limit election if they are to be served.
Some county residents have rallied around
the idea of a vote, while others are lobbying
to be included in the city utility.
Boulder officials say owning that part of the
distribution system would make it easier to
sever the system from Xcel's broader network
and improve the reliability of a future city
utility.
PTC to hold hearing on Xcel’s claim to Boulder County
electricity customers
Colorado law says there can be only one
utility in a given geographic area. Xcel Energy
contends that because Xcel already has been
assigned those territories, which are mostly
in the Gunbarrel area and in county enclaves
in north Boulder, the city cannot take them
for its own service area.
Xcel said its certificate to serve those areas
cannot be taken away without due process,
including a hearing before the PUC and
a finding that Xcel is unwilling or unable
to serve those customers.
In a Monday filing, Xcel's attorneys asked that
the commission hear the issue of whether the
5,800 county customers "will automatically
become customers of a Boulder municipal
utility if Boulder proceeds with any one
of its five municipalization plans."
The commission set a 14-day period for Boulder
and other interested parties to file objections
and a seven-day period for Xcel to respond.
A hearing date will be set after that comment
period.
The city has contended that the PUC
does not have jurisdiction. City officials
point to provisions of the state constitution
that give home-rule cities the authority
to condemn property and create utilities
inside and outside their boundaries.
The commissioners said Wednesday that
they thought it was appropriate to rule
on the matter after hearing arguments.
Commissioner Joshua Epel
said Boulder's objection at
this stage was "premature."
"I think it's important
that it be taken up,"
Commissioner Pam
Patton said.
Xcel Energy spokeswoman Michelle Aguayo
said the company was pleased with the outcome
of the meeting.
City officials said they are prepared to make
their case before the PUC.
"City staff attended this morning's discussion
and respects the commission's decision to open
a docket on this matter," city spokeswoman
Sarah Huntley said in an email. "Boulder
welcomes the opportunity to fully discuss
these issues with the PUC."
Reader View: We
can build a better
energy future
by Shane Woolbright,
Santa Fe New Mexican,
June 15, 2013
(Woolbright is a
Santa Fe, New Mexico
resident and retired
MESO General Manager)
At the March 13 Santa Fe City Council meeting,
the first business item was to hear a report
on establishment of a public power system
for Santa Fe. Public power refers to electricity
distribution or generation owned by the
consumers. Currently, our power is provided
by Public Service Company of New Mexico,
80 percent of which comes from coal and
nuclear, with adverse impacts to the economy,
our health and our environment. The
preliminary economic feasibility showed
that a Santa Fe public power utility could
provide leading-edge innovations in energy
efficiency, renewable energy and related
economic development, while stabilizing rates.

JULY 2013 - VOL. 29 NO. 7
(Continued on page 2.)
Boulder plans to serve 5,800 county
customers if it launches city utility
by Erica Meltzer, Camera Staff Writer,
www.dailycamera.com, June 12, 2013
DENVER - The Colorado Public Utilities
Commission will hold a hearing on whether
the city of Boulder can serve customers
in unincorporated Boulder County - over
the objections of Xcel Energy - if the city
creates a municipal electric utility.
The commissioners agreed Wednesday that
the issue deserves to be aired, with arguments
made on both sides.
Boulder officials have said that, if the city
creates a municipal utility, it would take
possession of two Xcel substations that
serve city and county customers, though
it would not pursue annexation or condemn
any non-Xcel property.
Roughly 5,800 county energy customers -
a figure that Xcel says represents about
11,000 residents - would be affected
by the change.
Those county residents were not eligible
to vote in the November 2011 election that
authorized Boulder to explore the creation
of a city-run utility.
A group is trying to put a charter amendment
on this year's ballot that would require those
county residents be allowed to vote in a future
debt-limit election if they are to be served.
Some county residents have rallied around
the idea of a vote, while others are lobbying
to be included in the city utility.
Boulder officials say owning that part of the
distribution system would make it easier to
sever the system from Xcel's broader network
and improve the reliability of a future city
utility.
PTC to hold hearing on Xcel’s claim to Boulder County
electricity customers
Colorado law says there can be only one
utility in a given geographic area. Xcel Energy
contends that because Xcel already has been
assigned those territories, which are mostly
in the Gunbarrel area and in county enclaves
in north Boulder, the city cannot take them
for its own service area.
Xcel said its certificate to serve those areas
cannot be taken away without due process,
including a hearing before the PUC and
a finding that Xcel is unwilling or unable
to serve those customers.
In a Monday filing, Xcel's attorneys asked that
the commission hear the issue of whether the
5,800 county customers "will automatically
become customers of a Boulder municipal
utility if Boulder proceeds with any one
of its five municipalization plans."
The commission set a 14-day period for Boulder
and other interested parties to file objections
and a seven-day period for Xcel to respond.
A hearing date will be set after that comment
period.
The city has contended that the PUC
does not have jurisdiction. City officials
point to provisions of the state constitution
that give home-rule cities the authority
to condemn property and create utilities
inside and outside their boundaries.
The commissioners said Wednesday that
they thought it was appropriate to rule
on the matter after hearing arguments.
Commissioner Joshua Epel
said Boulder's objection at
this stage was "premature."
"I think it's important
that it be taken up,"
Commissioner Pam
Patton said.
Xcel Energy spokeswoman Michelle Aguayo
said the company was pleased with the outcome
of the meeting.
City officials said they are prepared to make
their case before the PUC.
"City staff attended this morning's discussion
and respects the commission's decision to open
a docket on this matter," city spokeswoman
Sarah Huntley said in an email. "Boulder
welcomes the opportunity to fully discuss
these issues with the PUC."
Reader View: We
can build a better
energy future
by Shane Woolbright,
Santa Fe New Mexican,
June 15, 2013
(Woolbright is a
Santa Fe, New Mexico
resident and retired
MESO General Manager)
At the March 13 Santa Fe City Council meeting,
the first business item was to hear a report
on establishment of a public power system
for Santa Fe. Public power refers to electricity
distribution or generation owned by the
consumers. Currently, our power is provided
by Public Service Company of New Mexico,
80 percent of which comes from coal and
nuclear, with adverse impacts to the economy,
our health and our environment. The
preliminary economic feasibility showed
that a Santa Fe public power utility could
provide leading-edge innovations in energy
efficiency, renewable energy and related
economic development, while stabilizing rates.